Buyer guide: VEGAPULS 62 vs OPTIWAVE 7300 C

Buyer guide: VEGAPULS 62 vs OPTIWAVE 7300 C

Hey, all! Back again to level with you on these devices! And no, that joke still has some life in it. We’ll keep it for a while. Anyway, say hello to the devices going head to head this week! In the yellow, we have the VEGA team bringing the VEGAPULS 62. And in the blue, KROHNE has the OPTIWAVE 7300 C. If the names ring a bell, then you know that means a good show. So let’s get on with it!

VEGAPULS 62

The market teems with radar sensors, so which should you even check out, much less pick? No worries, because you’ve come to the right place! We want to help you find answers to your questions. So let’s welcome the VEGAPULS 62 from VEGA, a prominent name in the automation sector.

Description

The 62 works great in standard liquid applications, even taking into account stuff like pressure, gas, and steam. Then again, almost any radar device can do that, so nothing fancy here!

It works in a K-band of around 26 GHz. Depending on the antenna, you’ll get different beam angles, like 22 degrees from the 40 mm antenna or 8 for the 95. The antenna size affects the range too, with a maximum of 35 meters, if you believe the manual. Therefore, a 40 mm has a max of 10 meters, but a 75 goes up to 30 meters.

Speaking of range, it also handles -196 to 450 degrees Celsius and -1 to 160 bars. If you like those numbers, you should dig a little deeper on this one.

Capability

The 62 measures distance, height, volume, and other parameters. It comes with a few wetted materials for chemical compatibility, like 316L stainless steel and C22 alloy. It also has several process connections and seal materials, so something in there should work for you. Plus VEGA offers three housing materials to choose from, so mix and match at will.

And let’s not leave out the antenna options, making it easy to fit a 62 into your process. Finally, the protection rating guarantees safety from external conditions – when you install it properly, of course.

Desirability

With the 62, VEGA makes the setup easy with a smart solution on the display and Bluetooth! It offers PROFIBUS PA, FOUNDATION Fieldbus (FF), and analog/HART two-wire and four-wire models. It also can connect through a modbus. Not quite everything, but a pretty good range.

And a big shout out to VEGA’s setup app, with its great user experience, and the nifty echo curve. VEGA did well with those.

KROHNE OPTIWAVE 7300 C

Say hello to KROHNE’s OPTIWAVE 7300 C, a radar device with good breeding. Let’s check out its features, understand what it has to offer, and learn how we can upgrade our level measurement!

Description

The 7300 C, as a loop-powered device, powers up and communicates through the same pair of cables, with a bandwidth between 24 and 26 gigahertz. You can use it in pastes and slurries as well as liquid at a range of up to 80 meters.

Its antenna options cover a nice array of signal distances and beam angles. The graphic for the distance doesn’t read clearly, but the beam angle data seems okay. For example, a DN40 horn gives a beam angle of 20 degrees, and a DN80 antenna drop gives you 8.

The 7300 C can handle -50 to 150 degrees Celsius. If you need more, the special option gives you -50 to 200 degrees Celsius. As for pressure, you can get -1 to 16 bars or -1 to 40 bars, depending on your antenna choice.

Capability

The 7300 C will measure level, volume, distance, and more. For chemical compatibility, it comes in materials like stainless steel, C-22, or PEEK for hygienic applications. Even the gaskets come in different materials, so some combo in here should work for you.

To reduce scheduled downtime, you usually install the radar on top of the vessel. KROHNE has offers different process connections to address this issue more thoroughly. Nice!

Desirability

For protocols, the 7300 C has HART, FF, and PROFIBUS PA. Again, one of these will probably fit your process. It also offers up to two analog outputs to link with the control system directly, and you can set up through the local display or a handheld.

Its simple display navigation means you can skip the manual too, which I always like. Plus it has a step-by-step guide for a quick setup. Innovative options like the reflection graph let you perform an in-depth analysis to clear interference or measure curved and conical tanks.

Table of comparison

Conclusion

The table makes the 62 look like a clear winner, but don’t discount the 7300 C too quickly. Both devices offer useful features at a reasonable price, so consider your needs before deciding.